SHIPPING NEARLY NORMAL

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1928, Page 9

SHIPPING NEARLY NORMAL

SYDNEY UNIONISTS WORK

SUSPENSION OF PREFERENCE STRIKING PORTS AFFECTED By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian Press Association. Received Sept. 24, 8.5 p.m. Melbourne, Sept. 24. Conditions on the Sydney waterfront to-day were normal, all labour needs being supplied. On the application of Hie Shipowners’ Association, Judge G. J. Dethridge, in the Federal Arbitration Court sitting at Melbourne to-day, suspended the preference clause of the waterside workers’ award in ports where unionists had refused to work. He refused suspension, however, in ports where the members were still working. The suspension applies to Fremantle, Adelaide, Port Kembla, Newcastle, Brisbane, Mackay, Bowen and Port Phillip. The judge deferred his decision in the ease of ports where the position of members is in doubt. His Honour refused tp vary the award, stating that Judge G. S. Beeby, who made the award, could later consider any applications for variation. Judge Dethridge added that without putting an end to the award, he would cancel the preference clause, but where members of the federation were working he did not feel inclined to extend the suspension. Five oversea vessels are now being worked by means of volunteers’ labour. Volunteers are brought to the docks in motor-cars under police protection, but no trouble has been experienced. InterState vessels are being worked as usual by unionists. The Sydney watersiders worked without hitch, large numbers attending the afternoon pick-up. A meeting of New South Wales transport group unions decided strenuously to oppose the Transport Workers’ Bill, which the House of Representatives passed last week, and plans ar e being made to call a Federal conference of unions to discuss ways and means. The loading at Newcastle of the steamer Poolta, which is en route to New Zealand via north coast ports, has been concluded by volunteer labour. The unionists are still working one steamer at Newcastle. DISORDERLY SCENES IN BRISBANE LOCAL STRIKE EXECUTIVE FORMED Brisbane, Sept. 24. There were disorderly scenes at the local wharves during the week-end. Stones were thrown and two volunteers injured. About 600 volunteers have enrolled and 13 steamers are being worked. The local unionists have formed their own strike executive and taken the dispute out of the hands of their officials. INTIMIDATION CHARGE DISMISSED ECHO OF MARINE COOKS’ STRIKE. Received Sept. 24, 7.5 p.m. Sydney, Sept. 24. The magistrate dismissed an information under the Federal Act charging J. Garden, secretary of the Trades and Labour Council, with having attempted by written intimidation to prevent persons from accepting employment, in connection with the transport of goods in inter-State trade. The matter arose out of the recent marine cooks’ strike, similar charges under the State Act being dismissed.